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CNN Saturday Morning News

Deadline to Officially enter for Governor in California Draws Near

Aired August 09, 2003 - 06:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: The deadline for candidates to officially enter the race for governor is -- in California is 5:00 p.m. Pacific time today, though many have already announced their intentions very publicly.
California Governor Gray Davis made his own TV appearance to talk about the people gunning for his job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: It's not a lot of fun, but I try not to let negative emotions consume me, because I am privileged to be the governor. Everyone else is trying to be the governor. And I'm trying every day to make life a little better for people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: The run for governor of California has already become a show, and the deadline for candidates is still several hours away. There are plenty of big names looking to get into the race, including editor Ed Ford Kennedy (ph) and Michael Jackson, OK, not the Edward Kennedy and the Michael Jackson.

But in California, anything's possible.

Now, for the latest on the greatest show in politics today, we head out to California and our Thelma Gutierrez -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Sean.

Well, you mentioned that anything's possible. I want you to take a look at the list right in front of me. You see how long it is. There are about 150 hopefuls who are running for governor, and statewide, about 680 hopefuls.

Now, on this list there's a Larry Flynt, the Michael Jackson that you must mentioned, Sean, and, topping the list, none other than Angelyne (ph). Angelyne, of course, is the billboard queen here in Los Angeles.

Now, the most popular, the most high-profile of all the candidates running at this very moment is 56-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course, he hit the campaign trail bright and early yesterday morning. He hit the talk show circuit. And then, in the afternoon, he showed up at the Inner City Games L.A., an afterschool intervention and prevention program for inner-city kids.

The actor for years has been a very strong advocate for children, fitness and, of course, affordable afterschool programs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I promise you, if I get elected to be governor of this great state, I will continue on my crusade for in this state and across the country to make sure that afterschool programs will be available in every public school in the whole United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: And later this morning, we understand that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be here to turn in his papers. He has to turn in his $3,500, his nomination papers, and, of course, those 65 signatures. Those signatures have to be validated. After that, his name goes on the ballot.

Another high-profile person to come here this morning will be Republican Bill Simon. Of course, Gray Davis beat him back in November, but he's at it again in just a very short eight months. It'll be a very busy morning this morning.

Sean, back to you.

CALLEBS: Well, Thelma, what is the state doing to brace for perhaps these scores of people who could come in at the last minute with their money and their signatures?

GUTIERREZ: Well, it's very interesting. They say that the pace here has been just absolutely frantic the past couple of days. They're fully staffed.

Yesterday, we were upstairs. It was quite a show. Not only do you have people here who are hoping to get married, you have people -- brides and grooms and folks like that, but you also have people standing out on the stairway say -- with signs saying, "Republican needs signatures." I -- you have lots -- a lot of different colorful people here.

But the registrar's office say they are fully staffed, and they're ready to go. They're waiting for all the folks to turn in those papers.

I think, interestingly enough, there are 680 hopefuls statewide, yet only some 36 have even turned in completed paperwork. Again, the names on those petitions have to be validated first before the names go on the ballot, Sean.

CALLEBS: Amazing, Thelma. Thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Draws Near>


Aired August 9, 2003 - 06:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: The deadline for candidates to officially enter the race for governor is -- in California is 5:00 p.m. Pacific time today, though many have already announced their intentions very publicly.
California Governor Gray Davis made his own TV appearance to talk about the people gunning for his job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: It's not a lot of fun, but I try not to let negative emotions consume me, because I am privileged to be the governor. Everyone else is trying to be the governor. And I'm trying every day to make life a little better for people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: The run for governor of California has already become a show, and the deadline for candidates is still several hours away. There are plenty of big names looking to get into the race, including editor Ed Ford Kennedy (ph) and Michael Jackson, OK, not the Edward Kennedy and the Michael Jackson.

But in California, anything's possible.

Now, for the latest on the greatest show in politics today, we head out to California and our Thelma Gutierrez -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Sean.

Well, you mentioned that anything's possible. I want you to take a look at the list right in front of me. You see how long it is. There are about 150 hopefuls who are running for governor, and statewide, about 680 hopefuls.

Now, on this list there's a Larry Flynt, the Michael Jackson that you must mentioned, Sean, and, topping the list, none other than Angelyne (ph). Angelyne, of course, is the billboard queen here in Los Angeles.

Now, the most popular, the most high-profile of all the candidates running at this very moment is 56-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course, he hit the campaign trail bright and early yesterday morning. He hit the talk show circuit. And then, in the afternoon, he showed up at the Inner City Games L.A., an afterschool intervention and prevention program for inner-city kids.

The actor for years has been a very strong advocate for children, fitness and, of course, affordable afterschool programs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I promise you, if I get elected to be governor of this great state, I will continue on my crusade for in this state and across the country to make sure that afterschool programs will be available in every public school in the whole United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: And later this morning, we understand that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be here to turn in his papers. He has to turn in his $3,500, his nomination papers, and, of course, those 65 signatures. Those signatures have to be validated. After that, his name goes on the ballot.

Another high-profile person to come here this morning will be Republican Bill Simon. Of course, Gray Davis beat him back in November, but he's at it again in just a very short eight months. It'll be a very busy morning this morning.

Sean, back to you.

CALLEBS: Well, Thelma, what is the state doing to brace for perhaps these scores of people who could come in at the last minute with their money and their signatures?

GUTIERREZ: Well, it's very interesting. They say that the pace here has been just absolutely frantic the past couple of days. They're fully staffed.

Yesterday, we were upstairs. It was quite a show. Not only do you have people here who are hoping to get married, you have people -- brides and grooms and folks like that, but you also have people standing out on the stairway say -- with signs saying, "Republican needs signatures." I -- you have lots -- a lot of different colorful people here.

But the registrar's office say they are fully staffed, and they're ready to go. They're waiting for all the folks to turn in those papers.

I think, interestingly enough, there are 680 hopefuls statewide, yet only some 36 have even turned in completed paperwork. Again, the names on those petitions have to be validated first before the names go on the ballot, Sean.

CALLEBS: Amazing, Thelma. Thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Draws Near>